What Causes Tooth Decay?

January 31, 2016

Filed under: Dental Problems,Oral Health Topics — Tags: — islandcoast @ 3:17 pm

Plaque is an insidious substance—a colorless, sticky film—that blankets your teeth and creates an environment in which bacteria erode tooth enamel, cause gum irritation, infection in inner structures such as pulp and the roots, and in extreme cases, tooth loss. Visiting a dentist is the best way to prevent tooth decay.
Some of the biggest culprits causing plaque are foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates, including soda beverages, some juices, candy and many kinds of pasta, breads and cereals.
Plaque also can attack fillings and other restorations in your mouth, which can lead to more costly treatment down the road.
Plaque is the main cause of tooth decay. It can also cause your gums to become irritated, inflamed, and bleed. Over time, the plaque underneath your gums may cause periodontal disease, which can lead to bone loss and eventual tooth loss.
Inside your teeth, decay can gradually destroy the inner layer, or dentin. It can also destroy the pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves and other tissues, as well as the root.
Periodontal disease is advanced gum disease. This serious condition occurs when the structures that support your teeth—the gums and bone—break down from the infection. Pain, hypersensitivity and bleeding are some of the signs of periodontal disease.

Simple Preventative Measures

The two best defenses against tooth decay and gum disease are a healthy, well-balanced diet and good oral hygiene, including daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing. Most public drinking water contains fluoride, but if you are unsure of your water supply, then use a good quality mouth rinse containing fluoride.
A good way to help your oral health between brushing is chewing sugarless gum; this stimulates your body’s production of saliva, a powerful chemical that actually neutralizes plaque formation and rinses decay-causing food particles and debris from your mouth.
In some cases, visiting a Naples Cosmetic Dentist can prescribe anti-cavity rinses or apply special anti-cavity varnishes or sealants to help fight decay.

Island Coast Dentistry Celebrates 5 Years in Naples!

November 12, 2015

Filed under: Dental Office News,Oral Health Topics — Tags: — islandcoast @ 3:37 pm

Happy five year anniversary!
Five years ago, this month, we opened the doors to our new state-of-the-art dental practice, serving our patients with the highest quality dental care in Naples Florida.
But where does the time go? So much has happened in the last five years at Island Coast Dentistry that to write about it all would be too much to read. But a big event was the birth of Luca Skupny (pictured above) to Dr. Skupny and his wife Melissa in May of 2015.
First and foremost we are thankful to our loyal patients, our staff and online team for making our practice what it is today.
We are so proud of what we’ve done here at Island Coast Dentistry and as always, thank you to everyone that has helped make this little dream of ours a reality.
Again, thank you for choosing Island Coast Dentistry for your oral health needs and for being a part of our success! Here’s to 20 more years – and beyond!

What's an Abscessed Tooth?

January 31, 2014

Filed under: Dental Problems — Tags: — islandcoast @ 3:14 pm

Treatment of an abscessed tooth
An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus, usually caused by some kind of infection and the spread of bacteria from the root of the tooth to the tissue just below or near the tooth.
In general, a tooth that has become abscessed is one whose underlying pulp (the tooth’s soft core) has become infected or swollen. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue, and lies within the tooth. It extends from the crown of the tooth, to the tip of the root, in the bone of the jaws.
An abscessed tooth can be an extremely painful condition.
In some cases, antibiotics are administered in an attempt to kill an infection. If antibiotics are ineffective and an abscess is shown to be damaging the pulp or lower bony structures, a root canal procedure may be needed to remove the dead pulp and restore the tooth to a healthy state.